Swift spoke gripping device for skein supports



Nov. 30, 1943. M w BECKER' 2,335,476

SWIFT LSPOKE GRIPPING DEVICE FOR SKEIN SUPPORTS Filed Aug. 19, 1941 INVENT OR:

flaw/1's W Becker ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWIFT SPOKE GRIPPING DEVICE FOR SKEIN SUPPORTS 10 Claims.

The present invention is adaptable for use with supports on which a skein of yarn is mounted onto a swift; said swift being of the type comprising a hub having two spaced series of radially extending spokes or arms set opposite in pairs; each such pair being bridged by a skein support, and more particularly this invention relates to means for attaching the skein supports to the spokes of the swift.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved means for securely positioning the skein support anywhere along a pair of spokes whereby all slipping is prevented and the spokes are not marred, and which will aid to maintain the skein in taut condition during the unwinding operation.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved article of the character mentioned whereby the position of the skein support on the swift can be easily adjusted in order to adapt the swift to receive skeins of various sized perimeters and to take up any undue slack in the skein.

A further object is to provide an article of the type described which is cheap to manufacture, easy to use, adaptable on existing swifts, and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective View of a swift provided with skein supports and the swift spoke gripping devices for mounting said supports which is the subject of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a skein support provided with spoke gripping devices constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Said gripping devices are here shown in condition free to be manually slid along the spokes of the swift.

Fig. 3 shows an element employed in the embodiment of this invention illustrated in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 show intermediate steps in assembling the spoke gripping device, which is one manner of practicing this invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing in fragmentary form, and in section, a skein mounted onto the swift in tension, whereby the gripping devices are operated to secure their station on the spokes,

In the drawing, the numeral It: indicates generally a swift or reel comprised of a hub l6, having two spaced series of spokes or arms I! and I8, extending substantially opposite one another radially therefrom. Each pair of spokes l1 and 18., are bridged by a skein support designated generally by the numeral l9; the ends of such skein supports being provided with spoke engagement means moveable along the respective spokes in order to adjust the effective perimeter of the swift to receive various sized skeins thereon over said skein supports l9. Said attachment or spoke gripping means is in each instance indicated generally by the numeral 28.

In the preferred embodiment herein illustrated, the tubular members 2|, are of rubber or other suitable elastic substance, the bore 2| of which is of such dimension as to permit easy sliding of the members 2!, by hand, along the respective spokes l1 and I8,'on which they are mounted as shown. Each of the members 2| is provided with a hole 2! through their walls, which holes may be mid-way the height of said members. The component 22, which may be of either elastic or non-elastic material, is mounted one onto each of the tubular members 2 I, whereby element 22 thereof encircles the body of said member, and element 22 thereof is passed through the hole 2|" into the interior of said tubular member 2!, and up and out through the top opening of the bore 2| and extending from said opening. Such extending ends may in any suitable manner be joined or associated to provide a skein support or bridge across the spokes. In the embodiment illustrated, a skein support construction is employed to follow in the teachings of my previous invention in skein supports for swifts, identified by my Patent No. 2,267,071 issued Dec. 23, 1941. I therefore provide the ends of components 22, with a head 22", and use a rigid member 23 to complete the bridge; said member 23 having holes 23' for connection purposes as illustrated.

In operation, each of the pairs of spokes l1 and I8 is fitted as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the skein supports H3 at substantially equal distances from the axis of the hub It, so that the eifective perimeter of the swift so set up, shall exceed the actual perimeter of the skein 26, which is to be mounted for unwinding. The skein is now mounted on the swift l5, whereupon all the members 23 will be moved towards the axis of the hub I6, thereby causing a pull in the elements 22", which in turn will cause elements 22' to hug or squeeze the tubular elements to the spokes I6 and I1 respectively, which hugging action alone is sufiicient to accomplish the fixation ofthe diminishes, meaning angle a diminishes. greaterangle a'isinitially, the greater will the position of said tubular members 2!, and further the members 2| are stretched in such a manner that their openings 2| nearest the free ends of the spokes of the swift are enlarged or elongated along one axis to form a sort of spout-like formation indicated by the numerals 24, whereby said members 2| pinch the spokes at 24 which is the base of said spout 24. It is to be notedthat such pinching action as occurs at points 24 in the manner described, is alone sufficient to secure the position of the members 2! along the spoke it is on. However, I have chosen to show an embodiment which utilizes all of said gripping actions, in order to teach an extremely eificient gripping means and to illustrate the complete teachings of this invention. It is-ev-ident that the amount of stretch in the members 2| when in tensed condition as shown in Fig.=6,.- will determine the tension in the skein 26, and ,said skein will remain taut automatically for the slack therein will be taken up as the spoutdimension The tensionbe in the skein 26, and :in thegripping forces action on-thespokes heretofore explained.

,When elements 22 are elastic, the automatic maintenance oftautness in the skein 26, is:,longer efiective than when said elements are'of:non-

stretchable material.

This invention is capable of numerous forms andivarious applications without departingfrom the essential features herein disclosed. It is ,therefore'intended and desired that the embodiment herein described be deemed illustrative of upon pulling said bridge towards the hub,';said K element will squeeze said tubular member against the spoke it is mounted on, thereby securing said tubular member at its position on said spoke.

, '2. In combination, a swiftzhavinga hub and a pair of spaced opposite spokes extending radially therefrom, an elastic tubular member slidably mounted about one. ofthe spokes, a second elastic tubular member slidably mountedabout the secnd of said spokes, and abridge adapted-to receivea skein thereon, having an element embracing the first tubular member in a surrounding manner. aboutxthe' first spoke, and a-second ele-' ment :embracing the second tubular member in a;surr.ounding manner about the secondrspoke, :Whereby upon pulling the bridge towards the hub; said elements will respectively squeeze said tubular members against the respective spokes, thereby securing said tubular members at their respective positions on the spokes.

,i'ixflhe combination -as defined -in claim :1, whereinthabridgeextends from and engagesa region of the end of the elastictubu1ar-member farthest: from the hub, whereby upon pulling the bridge towards thehub, saidrend ofthe tubular member'will'be stretched more thanany'other respective tubular members will be stretched more than any other parts respectively of said members, forminga spout-like opening in each of said tubular members, whereupon said tubular members willlpinch the respective spokes on which they are mounted at the bases of said spout-like formations, thereby further securing said tubular members at their respective positions on the spokes.

55.1111 combination, a swift having a hub and ,a pair :of spaced oppositespokes extendingradially:therefrom, an elastic tubular member slidably'mountedabout onev of the spokes ;-=said tubular member being provided. with aihole in its wall, an -element:ha-ving a loop; said element being positioned within said tubular memberandextending from one end thereof outof the bore in said tubular member, and said loop extending through-said holeand positioned to encircle the body of said .tubularmember transverse theline of said first-spoke, and-abridge element adapted to receiveaskeinthereon, connecting the .extending-rend of-said element and the second spoke; the end from-which saidlfirst elementextends of said tubular memberbeingthatfar-thestfromthe hub, whereby upon pulling said bridgetowards the hub,,th e loop portion of said first element-will squeeze said tubular member against the ,spokeit ismounted on, and the. end of said tubular member from which said first elementextends will ,be'stretchedforming a spout-like openingin. said tubular member, whereupon said tubular member wilLpinch thespoke it is mounted. onatthefbase of said spout-like formation, thereby securing said tubular memberv at its position onsaid spoke.

6. Incombination, a swift having .a.hub and a pair of spaced opposite spokes extendingradially therefrom, an elastic .tubularmember slidably mounted aboutoneofthe spokes, a second elastic tubular. member slidably, mounted about the second of saidspokes; .a pair of elements having-loops; each of said tubularmemberslbeing provided with. ahole in theirrespective walls in substantially oppositerelation; saidelements being positioned, one within each of said ltubular members and extending fromone end thereof respectively out-of the respective ,Zbores in said tubular .members, .and said loops extending respectively through said holes and positioned to encircle the respective bodies of said tubular members transverse the respective lines oftheir related spokes, and a bridge element adapted .to receive a skein .thereon,.connecting the extending endszof saidpair of -elements;the ends from which said pair of elements extendfrom said tubular members being those farthest from the hub, whereby upon pulling saidvbridge towards the hub, the loop portions. of said pair of elements will squeeze the respective tubular members against the spokes they aremounted on, andthe ends of said'tubular members from which said pair of elements extend will be stretched-forming a spout-like opening in each of said tubular-members, whereupon said-tubular members .will pinch 9. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein the loop portions of the elements encircling the body of the tubular members are elastic.

10. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein the portions of the elements extending from the bores of the respective tubular members are elastic MORRIS W. BECKER. 

